Hooray for sunshine! Our family loves summer, but for us it’s about more than just the good weather. Summertime means families and friends are getting together more, and – my favorite part – the food gets a fresh new look. This pasta is loaded with summertime favorites, but its creamy deliciousness keeps the comfort food feel.

Summer is our season for dinner parties, but not the fancy kind. Instead we do super casual nights with friends. We think up a delicious meal that will appeal to everyone and ask people to bring something so everyone feels involved. Recently we served up this pasta. No one could decide what was the real star of the show, the creamy pasta or the garlic bread!

The pasta is made with a simple white sauce that gets kicked into summer mode by blending in fresh basil and adding a zip of lemon right before serving.

And then there’s the garlic bread…

Ok, not to toot my own horn, but I make a killer garlic bread . It’s not special in that it has a crazy secret ingredient or loads of special toppings, but it’s amazing in that the bread gets these little crusty pockets of garlicky butter, and oh just wait until you bite into it, or better yet, dip it in the sauce. Trust me, it’s delicious!

Carrian believes anyone can be successful in the kitchen with a nudge in the right direction. She’s helping us all with her family-friendly recipes, cooking tips and a good dollop of easy, everyday inspiration.